News

Director of Operations Eric Buchholz and Lisa Downey pose for a picture after she was recognized for her five-year anniversary with Sun Mechanical.

by Lisa Downey, Assistant Project Manager

Hey ladies, March is for you! The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is celebrating our contributions to the construction profession from March 4-10. Women’s roles in this industry vary from receptionists (aka, the gatekeepers, do not underestimate this role!), project managers, purchasing, and field crew to executive positions and more.

I am an assistant project manager for a mechanical contracting company. The main thing I love about construction is the people. I have lived in a few places and have found most construction industry professionals are easier going than other industries. Real people building communities together – how much better can it get?

I love my job! I am an organization fanatic so tasks like reviewing specifications, gathering and compiling submittal data, creating and maintaining drawing logs, and updating plan sets when a revision is issued are fun for me.

I work at a company that has never made me feel they treat women any different from men, which is very refreshing. Some positions held by women at my company include senior project manager, service department purchasing manager, service coordinator, office manager, and field crew.

Here are some resources to find out how to get involved with NAWIC or to see what you can do to promote NIC:

The federal and state-approved program aims to address the skilled labor shortage in Arizona

Sun Mechanical Contracting, Inc. has responded to the skilled labor shortage in Arizona with a solution: a comprehensive sheet metal and plumbing apprenticeship program. The program, which is federally and state-approved, draws between 10-20 employees per session.

“As the economy in Arizona rebounds from the recession, the construction industry faces a challenge in hiring skilled labor,” said Marc Kinseth, President of Sun Mechanical. “We started the apprenticeship program in an effort to close the skilled labor gap while giving employees an incredible opportunity for advancement.”

The program was created in 2009 with the cooperation of the Arizona Department of Commerce Apprenticeship Office and the US Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are open to current Sun Mechanical employees and the process is competitive. Every student receives a minimum of 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 650 hours of related technical instruction. After approximately four years, participants receive certification from the state and Department of Labor recognizing their completion.

Fabian Lopez is an Army veteran who began a career in construction after he completed his service. He said the apprenticeship program was one of the reasons he started working for Sun Mechanical. “The reputation of the program preceeds itself. There is a formality to everything, and everything is very well organized. They know what they’re doing so you try your best as well,” he said.

Lopez, who graduated from the sheet metal program in September, said the skills he gained made him feel accomplished. “I got home and told my kids about it. I put my ‘A’ tests on the fridge at home. I’m proud. It makes you feel good inside, like you’re a part of something.”

Kinseth believes that apprenticeships offer the best of both worlds. “Employees gain skills that make them more competent in their trades, and employers gain dedicated, skilled team members.”

The next sheet metal and plumbing apprenticeship program is expected to launch in the spring of 2018.

Southern Arizona’s largest mechanical contractor was founded as a plumbing company

Sun Mechanical Contracting, Inc. is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Founded in 1977 by Scott Candrian as a side business, it has since grown into the largest mechanical contractor in Southern Arizona.

Over the past four decades, the staff has grown from two to more than 200 skilled tradesmen and management personnel. The company started out of Candrian’s car trunk; today, Sun Mechanical provides hundreds of clients with plumbing, HVAC, industrial/institutional piping and duct work, commercial service, and more. Sun Mechanical’s service division operates throughout the state.

“We are proud of how much the company has grown and we are extremely grateful for our customers' continued support and loyalty,” said President Marc Kinseth. “We owe our success to our customers and our outstanding employees.”

Sun Mechanical provides services for a wide range of industries, including education, healthcare, government, commercial, manufacturing, and hospitality. Customers include many of Tucson’s largest business organizations, such as the University of Arizona, Raytheon, and Ventana Medical Systems. In addition, Sun Mechanical performs both service and construction projects for all of the area healthcare facilities.

“The landscape of downtown and the university area is changing dramatically. As we emerge from the recession, there is a lot of opportunity for great construction projects in Tucson and we’re excited to be a part of it,” Kinseth said.